Compression sealing gate for storage bins and hoppers



R. E. HELTZEL May 12,1953

COMPRESSION SEALING GATE FOR STORAGE BINS AND HOPPERS Filed Dec. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS y 1953 I R. E. HELTZEL COMPRESSION SEALING GATE FOR STORAGE BINS AND HOPPERS Filed D60. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBERT E. HELTZEL BY m ATTORNI Kx Patented May 1 2, 1 953 COMPRESSION SEALING GATE FOR STORAGEBINS AND HOPPERS Robert E. Heltzel. Warren, Ohio Application December 8, 1949, Serial No. 131,762 14 Claims. (Cl. 222-505) The present invention relates to improvements in compressible sealing gate for storage bins and hoppers, and has for an object to provide a gate which will serve as a sealing gasket over the discharge mouth of the hopper or bin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gate structure and operating mechanism in which the gate body itself in its relation to the discharge mouth will be both water tight and cement tight.

While the improved gate and its operating mechanism may be used in any the application of the invention will be special, being used to advantage on cement bins, concrete hoppers, or on any material that flows readily.

Broadly considered, the invention provides a gate having a compound angular swinging movement to move the same into and out of registry with the discharge mouth of the hopper or bin and a sliding movement when in such registry,

to move the gate into and out of sealing engagement with the edge of the discharge mouth; and to further provide means by which in opening the gate will first slide rectilinearly away from the discharge mouth and thereafter will be swun aside from such discharge mouth, and on closing the gate will be first rotated back into registry with the discharge mouth and thereafter lifted through a rectilinear motion into tight sealing engagement with theedge of the discharge mouth.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointedout in the appended claims. I

In the drawings, in which like parts are denoted by the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and parts shown in section oian improved compression sealing gate for storage bins and hoppers constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view taken from the end 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the gate with parts brokenaway and parts shown in section.

Figure 4 is a vertical section the gate on the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the operating arms.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and parts shown in section of a desired relation,

taken through modified form of gate and operating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a similar view moved to subsequent positions.

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective operating arms'employed. Referring more particularly toFigures 1 to 5 view of one of the inclusive, l0 designates an operating shaft which suitable means, and II:

may be rotated by any and I2 represent links of a toggle gether at IS. The links l2 are pivoted at to the lower ends of operating arms M which are pivoted at l6 at their upper ends vertically upon the pivots l6 which outstand from opposite sides of the outlet chute ll of a bin or hopper Hi.

pivoted toof the outlet chute H. In the upper portions of these side plates 20 are vertically elongated slots 2| and spaced above the same outwardly extending pins 22 for engagement by lugs 23 projecting at right angles from the upper portions of the operating arms I l.

Trunnions 24 projecting laterally from oppo,

site sides of the outlet chute ll are received in the vertically elongated slots 2| of the gate side plates 20 to permit of the gate l9 having a ver tical movement toward and from the discharge mouth at the lower end of the outlet chute 11..

The gate l9 ispreferably provided with a rubber or other compressible lining 25 at least around its edges which engage the edges, of the discharge mouth of the outlet chute H.

The side plates have fixedly mounted thereon casings 26 in which are slidably received the plungers 21 having their outer ends engaged against the adjacent edges of the operatin arms I4. Removably or otherwise connected with the.

plungers 21 are stems 28 which slide through the rear end walls of the casings 26, Nuts 29 afiixed to. the outer ,ends of the stems 28 abutload or compression and tend to project the plungers 21 against the operating arms l4.

Roller stops 3| on the outlet chute ll are showing the parts The arcuate gate [9 is carried by side plates or walls 20 which extend up on opposite sidesadapted to be abutted by vertical walls 33 of out-out portions in the rear edges of the side plates 20 in the closed position of the gate with reference to its angular movement. Roller abutmerits 32 projecting out from the segmental side plates 20 are positioned to be engaged by the forward edges of the operating arms 14.

In operation it will be understood that the gate 19 and its side' plates 20c ari rotate on'the' trunnioris 2'4 and also "slide up and down vertically on said trunnions 24 due to the vertically elongated slots 2|.

The closed position of the gate is shown-- in Figure 1 in which the gate has beenraise'd vertically by the engagement of the lugs 23 beneath the pins 22, the vertically elongated slots {that-- ing moved up on the trunnions' 24; and the lin ing 25 becoming compressed against the discharge mouth of the outlet chute H. in this position the gateis tightly'closed and no material is permittedto lean therethrough; In this positioir the gate is held against swinging movement to the right by the vertical walls' Se eng'agingthe roller stops 3|. The plungersfi'l have been pushed into retracted positions by theopcrating arms l4" and held such position by the lock afforded by the togglelinks H, i2, movingbelow seas center ofthe' pivot connection [3. The operating aiiiis' I4" have" moved away from the roiierahetments 32'.

openingthe gate; the sl iaft It? is turned counter-clockwise to raiS the link H" and break the toggle lookat i=3=thuspii11ingu oh 'thecom- 'ahio'n links I2 and rotatin the ope ating arms M to the ieit about their pivot oi ts tS-l Dru ing the initial movement or the operating" arms Hi the lugs 23 are withdrawn downwardly from the pins 22 allowing'the gateto droopy gravity and by weightor the material thebin through a vertical distance regulated: by the length or the slots 2 i. 'rhe'gate' and its lining- 2e are thusfr'eea rroin tight engagement with theedges or the discharge inouth er the outlet chute It and the gate may thereiore be" freely swung to the left so as to open the ehuteahu permit discharge of the material.

This initial angular (-31 rotary movement or the operating ii lm s' I4 de' lidt-fimmflfllafie any accompanying angular niovementto the gate is by reason or the fact that" thereislost r'iiotlbribetween the operating arms M and the gate 1'9 due to the spacing or the roller ahutments 32 froin the forward edges or the o erating arms f4 when those arms are in initial or closed posh tion. Consequently the arms [4 must be rotated through a presetermineti angular uis'taneehe'fore engaging the roller abutments I13. lbst motion movement the operating arm's M are assisted by the springs air which act to project the plungers 21 to follow the arms M in such initial angular movement. when the arms l4 engage the roller abutments 32 the gate It and its side plates 26 are entrained to' move with the arms l4 and the plungers 27 have reached their maximum projection as their casingsrt are thereafter carried alongwith the operatingarms 14; Continued rotation of the shaft I'll causes the parts H, 12 and H to finally move up to the dotted line position shown' in Figure l in which the gate I9 is shown as having reached its fully open position;

In closing, the operating arms M are forcibly rotated downwardly about their pivotal axes it by the positive rotation or the shaft H] in a clockwise direction. in swinging clown, the op- D'ili'ing this pivoted together at ic While the links W crating arm's transmit the same motion to the gate through the projected plungers 2'5, the springs 3i) and the casings 26 which are fastened to the side plates 28 of the gate is. These springs are sufficiently strong or have sunicient load to keep the plungers 2? projected while the gate is shearing through the material which is dropping through the outlet chute H1. The load of these springs 38 is sufficiently great to hold the plung ers 2'! projected until the verticalwalls at the rear edges of the gate side walls 28 encounter the roller stops it; whereupon the gate to, side Walls 2%? and the casings 28 are necessarily arrested in angular movement. The spring-loaded plungers 21 thus prevent relative angular movemerit between the gate and operating arms Hi during-the rotary motion of the gate down to a position opposite the discharge opening of the chute. Any relative movement between the gate and operating arms Hi would cause linear movemerit of thegate ISi'towardthe chute H which would tend'to bind the gate against the chute and prevent the free swinging movement of the gate to a closing position. Thus the main function of thespringdoaded plungers 2? is to n1aintain the gate away from the chute while such gate'is" being forced down and through the discharging material, and this action of the plungers 2'? is only suspended when the gate side walls 20 encounter stops 3i whereuponthe further swinging movement of the operating arms I l in a counter clo'ckwise direction'forces the'p'lungers 21 inwardly and compresses the springs while the arms it move away from the ro'ller'abut ments 32 and the lugs iil're engage beneath the pins 22 and lift the gate to its tightly closed position over the mouth of the outlet chute ll.

Referring more particularly to Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, similar toggle links iii and 52 are are pivoted at to the lower ends of the swinging operating arms M The outlet chute Il of the bin or hopper le has its lower discharge mouth controlled by the arcuate gate W which is supported by its side plates 2th on the truhriions Z-l which outstand from the sides of the outlet chute I! and are received throughvertically elongated slots Zi in the side plates These trunnions B l also serve topivota-lly support the upper ends of the operating arms le The gate Iii is equipped with a rubber or other compressible lining 25 and the side plates 2i! carryfixedly thereon casings 26 of spring units r similar to the unit illustrated in Figure 3 and having the plungers 2'i the stems nuts 29 Roller stops 3% on the outlet chute W are adapted to engage vertical walls 33 of the side plates lit Upper limit stops 34 project from the sides of the outlet ollute H in position to engage the forward leading edges of the side plates 29 in the raised open position of the gate.

Pins 22 project out from the side plates 28 and through cam slots 23 in the operating arms M remote from their pivot points 24 In operation, the gate is in its closed position in Figure 6 in which the pins 22 occupy the upper endportions of the cam or inclined slots 23 of the operating arms M having lifted the gate I? to its upper closed position through the elongated slots 2 l of the side plates 28 sliding up upon the trunnions. 24

Initial movement by the toggle links H l2 23 and the will shift the operating arms t from the position of Figure 6 to the dotted position of Figure 7. In moving through this angular distance the operating arms M shift thepins 22 into the lower end portions of the cam slots 23 thus forcing the gate l9 and its lining 25* down away from the discharge mouth of the bin outlet. Dur-. ing this initial angular movement of. the arms Me the plungers 2i willfollow the armsunder the expanding-action of the springs in the casings 26' t By the continued angular movement of. .Lithe arms I l around in a clockwise direction'to the full line position of Figure 7 the gate [B now freed from the edge of the discharge opening will be angularly turned aside from such discharge opening, permitting the contents of. the bin. to fall into a truck or other receptacle below.. This will be caused by the fact that the gate will be entrained to move with the operating arms H when the pins 22 are against the right hand end walls of the cam slots 23 In the fully open position, the gate side plates 20 will strike the upper limit stops 34 as shown in full lines in Figure 7.

In closing the load of the springs in the casings 25 will be sufficient to keep the plungers projected against the operating arms I l and the pins 22 will therefore be held in the outer end portions of the cam slots 23 to prevent the'gate l9 during its return rotary movement from moving up on the slots Zi which would cause the lining 25 to be scraped or ripped from the inside of the gate by the lower edges of the outlet chute l1. It will be understood that the thrust'of the arms M in closing the gate it will have a high value in view of the fact that the gate 19 must shear across through the heavy material falling through the discharge opening. However the load of the springs in the casings 26 will be sufficiently heavy to resist such thrust and until. the gate arrives at a completely closed position in a rotary sense whereupon the roller stops 3P prevent further rotary movement of the gate and therefore the further thrust upon the arms M by the toggle operating mechanism will operate to force the pins 22 into the upper end portions of the cam slots 23 This will have the effect .to lift the side plates 20* and the gate vertically/to, compress its lining 25 tightly against thelower edge of the outlet chute Il I .l a

In both forms of the invention thetoggle center in the tightly closed position of the gate is past dead centerso as to form a toggle lock which resists the action of the heavy springs which might otherwise casually or accidentally shift the: operating arms through the lost-motiondegree. of movement and such movement woulddefeat-the purposes of the invention in that the gate would slide down to unsealed position. iParticularly is this true when the device'is used on cement, sand and other heavy materialbins wherethe superposed weight of suchmaterialsis directly sup: portedonthe gate. q a While I have disclosed herein. the. best form of the invention known to me at the present time, I desire it to be understoodthat I reserve the right to make changes and modifications in the herein described embodimentof the invention provided such changes fall within the scope of the following claims: I I

What is claimed is: 1. In a device as described, a chute having a discharge opening, agate mounted for..linear movement toward and from the dis'charge.-;opening and for. angular swinging movement into and out of alinement with such discharge opening, an operator mounted for pivotal movement relatively to said gate, means between the gate and operator for linearly moving the gate consequent on such relative pivotal movement, an abutment on the gate in the path of movement of the operator for entraining the gate to swing in one direction with the operator, a stop positioned to arrest the closing swinging movement of said gate and to permit pivotal movement of the operator relatively to the stopped gate in which the operator moves away from said abutment, and a spring-loaded device on the gate positioned in the path of said operator to yieldably prevent relative pivotal movement of the operator relatively to the gate during the closing swinging movement of the gate and until the gate encounters said stop.

2. In a device as described, a chute having a discharge opening, a gate mounted for linear movement toward and from the discharge opening and for angular swinging movement into and out of alinement with such discharge opening, an operator mounted for pivotal movement relatively to said gate, means between the gate and operator for linearly moving the gate consequent on such relative pivotal movement, an abutment on the gate in the path of movement of the operator for entraining the gate to swing in one direction with the operator, a stop positioned to arrest the closing swinging movement of said gate and to permit pivotal movement of the operator relatively to the stopped gate in which the operator moves away from said abutment, and a spring-loaded device between the operator and gate to yieldably prevent relative pivotal movement of the operator relatively to the gate during the closing swinging movement of the gate and until the gate encounters said stop.

3. In a device as described, a chute having a discharge opening, a gate mounted for linear movement toward and from the discharge opening and for angular swinging movement into and out of alinement with such discharge Opening, an operator mounted for pivotal movement relatively to said gate, means between the gate and operator for linearly moving the gate consequent on such relative pivotal movement, an abutment on the gate in the path of movement of the operator for entraining the gate to swing in one direction with the operator, a stop positioned to arrest the closing swinging movement of said gate and to permit pivotal movement of the operator relatively to the stopped gate in which the operator moves away from said abutment, a casing afiixed to said gate, a plunger slidable in said casing in the path of movement of said operator, and spring means in said casing for urging said plunger toward said operator in the direction of swinging opening movement of said gate.

4. In a device as described, a chute having a discharge opening, a gate mounted for linear movement toward and from the discharge opening and for angular swinging movement into and out of alinement with such discharge opening, anoperator mounted for pivotal movement relatively to said gate, means between the gate and operator for linearly moving the gate consequent on suchrelative pivotal movement, an abutment on the gate in the path of movement of the operator for entraining the gate to swing in one direction with the operator, a stop positioned to arrest the closing swinging movement of said gateand to permit pivotal movement of the operasset ator relatively to the stopped gate in which: the operator moves away from said abutment, a" cas mg on saidgate, a plunger mounted to recipro eate through a forward end or said casing in the path-of said operator, aspring: in saidoasing for urging the plunger against said operator, a lunger rod connected to said plunger and pro jetting through the opposite end of said casing, and adjusting devices on the-external end of said lunger rod-l 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for linearly moving the" gate eom= prises a pin on the gate and a lugv on the oper ator adapted in one position to engage" beneath said pin.

6'. A via The as claimed in claim 1- inwhich said means for linearly moving the gate com-- piises a pin on the gate and a earn slot in the operator engaging said pin.

'7. In a device described, a chute having a discharge opening, a gate mounted for linear movement toward and from thedischarge open= ing and for angular swinging movement into and out of alinement with such discharge opening,- an opera-tor m unted for pivotal movement rela tively to said gate, means between the gate and operator for linearly moving the gate consequent on such relative pivotal movement, and abut"- ments'on said gate at opposite sides or said oper ator and in the path thereof, one of said abutmerits being spaced from the operator in the closed and sealed position of the gate'wher'eloy the operator must execute a limited angular move ment of its own before encountering said last named abutment to entrain the gate for swinging movement with the operator, said other abutment being spring loaded and constantly ing the other side of said operator to oppose relative angular movement between the operator and gate during the closing swinging movement of the gate, and means for arresting the gate in its swinging movement after arriving opposite the discharge opening whereby further relative angular movement of the operator with respect to the gate will cause said first-named means to linearly move the gate into sealed condition against the discharge opening.

8. In a device as described, a chute having a discharge opening, a gate mounted for linear movement toward from the discharge opening and for angular swinging movement into and out of alineznent with the discharge opening, an operator mounted for movement relatively to said gate, means for linearly moving the gate consequent on Lllifih relative movement, means on said gate engageable with the operator to arrest the relative movement of the operator after the gate is moved linearly away from the opening and to entrain the gate with the operator to swing to an open position and a stop positioned to arrest the closing swinging movement of the gate when the gate is aligned with the opening and to permit movement of the operator relatively to said arrested gate in wh ch the means on the gate is disengaged from the operator and the gate is moved linearly toward the opening.

9. In a device as described, a chute having a discharge opening, a gate mounted for linear movementtoward and from the discharge opening and for angular swinging movement into and out of alinement with the discharge opening, an operator mounted for movement relatively'to'said gate, means between the gate and operator for linearly moving the gate consequent on such rela= ti've movement, means on said gate engageable wlth the operator: for entraini-ng the gate to swing; to an: open position, a stop positioned to arresttneolosmg swinging movement of the gate and to permit movement of the operator relatively to" said arrested gate in' which the means on-the gate is' disengaged from the operator and the gate is moved linearly toward the opening, and spring means between the gate and said operator to yieldably prevent movement of the operator relatlvel y to the gate during the closing swinging movement of the gate.

10. In w devioeas described, a chute having a discharge opening, a gate mounted for linear movement toward and from the discharge opening: andforangular swinging movement into and out of a'l-inement with the discharge opening, an operator mounted formovement relatively to said gate; means" between the gateand operator for linearly movingfthe gate consequent on such relatl-Ve movement, means on said gate engageable withtheoperatorfor entrainin'g the gate to swing to: an opem position, a stop positioned to arrest the closingswinging movement of the gate and to permit movement of the operator relatively to said arrested gate in which the means on the gate is'dise'ngaged' from the operator and the gate is moved linearly toward the opening, and means between the gate and the operator to yielclably prevent movement of the operator relatively to the: gate during; the closing swinging movement of the gate and: until the gate encounters said Stiip:

1 -1 For use with a chute having a discharge opening, a closure comprising a gate mounted for linear movement toward and from the discharge operlirl gv and for angular swinging movement into and. out of alignment with the dischar e opening, an operator movable relatively to said gate,,mean's for linearly moving the gate consequent on such relative movement of the operator, meanson said gate engageable with the operator after thegatemoves linearly away from the opening for entrain-lug the gate with the operator to swing the gate toan open position and a stop positioned to arrest the closing swinging movement or the gate: and to permit movement of the: operator relatively to said arrested gate in whiohthe-means on the'gateis disengaged from theopera-tor and the gate is moved linearly over the openirig,

12. For use with a chute having a discharge openingia closure" oomprisingja gate mounted for linearmovementtoward and from the discharge opening in alignment therewith and for movement into-- and out of alignment with the discharge opening, an operator movable relative to said gate, means -respons'ive to the relative movement of the operator Ior'moving'thegate linearly toward and away' from the opening, means on the gate to arresttherelative-movement of the operator and entrain the gate with the operator to move the gate out of alignment with the opening, means positioned" to arrest the movement of the gate back into alignment with the openingv and means restrainingsaid"operator from movement relative tattle-gate: until the gate has encountered such arresting meansandisarrested, at which time the operator movesi relative to the arrested gate and the gate-is moved linearly toward and over the opening;

13. For use with a chute having a discharge opening, a closure comprisinga gate mounted for linear movement toward and from the discharge openihgin alignment therewith and for movement into and out of alignment with the discharge linear movement toward opening, an operator movable relative to said gate, said gate being movable linearly away from the opening during such relative movement of the operator, means on the gate to arrest the relative movement of the operator and to entrain the gate with the operator to move th gate out of alignment with the opening, means positioned to arrest the movement of the gate back into alignment with the opening, mean-s restraining said operator from movement relative to the gate until the gate encounters such arresting means and is arrested and means between the gate and the operator for linearly moving the gate toward and over the opening during the movement of the operator relative to the arrested gate.

14. For use with a chute having a discharge opening, a closure comprising a gate mounted for and from the discharge opening and for angular swinging movement into and out of alignment with the discharge opening, an operator movable relative to said gate, said gate being biased to a dropped position,

means on said gate engageable with the opera tor to arrest the relative movement of the operator and entrain the gate with the operator to swing the gate to an open position, a stop positioned to arrest the closing swinging movement of the gate, means between the gate and the operator to yieldably prevent movement of the operator relatively to the gate during the closing and swinging movement of the gate and until the gate encounters said stop, and means between the operator and the gate for linearly moving the gate to a closed position consequent on the relative movement of the operator relatively to said arrested gate.

ROBERT E. HELTZEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,224,136 Caskey May 1, 1917 1,359,161 Gardner Nov. 16, 1920 

